Tag: Performer

by David Burgess on May 8, 2018 0

Stagedooring: A Broadway sport

Before You Head Out to the Theater Tonight…

…make sure you’re armed with all the information in this lens! Stagedooring: A Broadway sport will tell you everything you need to know about stagedooring. Here, you’ll know exactly what you need to bring, what strategy to employ, and when to give up. Stagedooring can be a little difficult for those who have no experience in it, but over time and with a little practice and a LOT of determination, you’ll be rounding up all those celebrity photographs and autographs in no time. Read on and enjoy!

What is stagedooring anyway?

Simply put, it is an activity that takes place after a Broadway performance, entailing a mad rush towards the stage door, Playbill, Sharpie, and camera in hand, in hopes of getting your favorite performers to sign your Playbill, telling them you adored their show, and having your photograph taken with them.

Why should I stagedoor?

The question is, why shouldn’t you? Stagedooring is a fun and exciting experience that ultimately lets you get close to some of Broadway’s most brilliant and famous performers. It’s your chance to get a photograph with them and get their signature, too, and you can breathlessly tell your friends the next day that, “Oh my god, I shook hands with (name of performer) and he talked to me!” Stagedooring is one of the highlights of watching a Broadway play or musical, and you should take advantage of the opportunity to do so.

The tools you need in stagedooring

In order to have a successful stagedooring experience, you must have the correct tools at hand. These are:

Your Playbill, of course
A Sharpie or a pen. Performers usually come out with their own Sharpies, but it’s always best to be prepared.
A Ziploc bag to protect your Playbill after it’s been signed. Very helpful in the event of inclement weather.
A friend who will go with you and take pictures. It’s challenging to stagedoor on your own, so a wingman will be a great help. You can be each other’s wingman if your friend is a Broadway fanatic as well.

Before the show

If you get to the venue early enough, make it a point to scope out the scene and find out where the stage door is. That way, you know exactly where you should be heading after the performance and you won’t need to stumble around looking for it. At best, you can angle for the most amazing spot by the door (read: the very front!) and not just have to stand on your toes trying to see performers amid the sea of fans and lift your camera hoping to get a good shot of them.

Don’t get tongue-tied and starstruck!

It can be a trifle bit embarrassing if your Broadway idol is standing right in front of you and you simply have no idea what to say or don’t want to sound too adoring or stupid. There are a few standard things you can say, such as

1. “You were amazing!”
2. “Great job!”
3. “It was a great show!”

But rely on those as your fallback lines if you’re really stumped and could barely manage a coherent squeak. In your extremely brief chat at the stage door, remember to always be sincere. Mention that you loved the person’s performance in that show and that you also admired him or her in other productions. You can also tell him or her which part of the show you loved the best. After he or she has signed your Playbill and had photos taken with you, remember to thank the performer politely.

Photograph protocol

It can be oh-so-tempting to whip your camera out and click away furiously upon sighting the performers you’ve been aching to see, but get a grip on yourself! A few photographs of them as they exit the stage door is fine, but don’t get crazy with your camera when they’re standing right in front of you–no one likes a madly clicking camera in his or her face, let alone bright, blinding flash. When the performer has finally reached your spot in the queue, ask politely if you can take his or her picture, then when he or she agrees, take a couple of solo pictures, then one with you in the photo as well. Don’t hog the performer’s attention by asking for a dozen shots! That would not only take up a lot of his or her time, but this will also annoy your fellow fans who want their precious few seconds with the performer as well.

How do you deal with snooty performers?

Broadway performers are usually very gracious about signing autographs, chatting with fans, and posing for photographs, but there is a precious few who will nod curtly to the waiting fans or ignore them entirely and briskly walk away. What should you do in that situation?

Simple: Nothing. It’s no use chasing after them; the person guarding each stage door will make it a point to follow you and stop you from doing so. Forget about jeering at them and calling them names–that’s not likely to encourage them to turn back and pose for pictures with you.

Instead, just leave them alone. Many of them are exhausted after a grueling performance, and you’d be surprised that Broadway performers usually tend to be quiet, private people. Just be glad that you were able to watch them perform.

Now for the REALLY snooty and obnoxious ones, you can have your dark little revenge on them by writing about their behavior in your blog or on Broadway-related message boards. Like-minded fans will understand your outrage, and some may even share their own unpleasant experience with those particular performers.

Stage doors you probably should avoid

As much as possible, you should stagedoor as much as you like and accumulate as many photographs and autographs as you can, enough to make you insensible with joy. But sometimes, there are stage doors that are just a little too challenging, even for seasoned stagedooring practitioners. Based on my experience, Equus was particularly hellish. Many people had left the theater before the play even ended, which meant that there was already an almighty queue at the stage door, effectively destroying any chance of me making my way to the door and getting photos of Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths.

From that experience alone, I’ve determined that stagedooring is darn near impossible for shows featuring extremely well known personalities, specifically Hollywood celebrities. There will almost certainly be a mad rush in that case; getting a few blurry shots of Hugh Jackman on his The Boy from Oz stint is already considered fairly lucky.

In 2009, I got the chance to watch A Steady Rain featuring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig. Predictably, the throng of people waiting by the stage door was, simply put, insane, but by some twist of fortune, I managed to get myself at the very front of the line. I had hoped to take some amazing photos of the two, but the press of people just made a lot of my photos wobbly, though I did get a few great ones, like the one you see here. Ultimately, stagedooring is not just about getting incredible photos and their signatures, but also about showing your respect and admiration for the performers.

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by David Burgess on May 7, 2018 0

Steve Wannall’s Survival Guide to Being a Renaissance Festival Performer

Why Perform at a Renaissance Festival?

Over the past couple of decades, the phenomenon that is the renaissance festival has been rapidly growing in popularity. From single weekend tent events, to giant villages filled with permanent structures, “renfaires” seem to be popping up all over. Still, this form of entertainment maintains a very unique quality…and it requires an equally unique type of entertainer. More and more actors, magicians, jugglers, mimes, and special entertainment performers of all kinds find themselves drawn to the nearest festival to find work. If you fit into this category (or even if you want to try to break into the business), then read on! You’ve come to the right place!

Stage vs. Street: What Kind of Performer to Be

The first thing to understand about performing for a renfaire, is that there are several ways to do it. The most common is to become a “strolling character.” Strolling characters are usually a collection of simple villagers or high class royalty who roam the festival at will and interact with the patrons in character. Sometimes these characters will represent actual historic figures like Henry VIII, or Queen Elizabeth, but often they are fictional period characters who are there to provide the appropriate atmosphere.

Strolling characters are typically hired through a normal audition process, and they become the workhorses of any given renfaire. They typically work the hardest of any of the performers, and usually get paid the least (depending on the character or amount of responsibility). Despite this fact, many performers find the job very rewarding. Aside from the physical demand, a strolling character is always “on.” In other words, they must remain in character for the entire time they are on the job. Because of this, they usually undergo a very specific rehearsal process, in which they must learn to speak with the appropriate accent and period language, as well as becoming versed in period mannerisms and greetings.

A strolling character must be prepared to know everything of historical significance pertaining to their character. A village worker must know what kinds of tools might be at their disposal, as well as period terms associated with their job. The village mayor, or sheriff must know a thing or two about renaissance politics. Of course, anyone portraying an actual historic figure must know everything about their character inside and out. Being so immersed in a role can be a fun challenge for an actor, but it can also prove hard to “turn off” at the end of the day. Just remember the phrase: “the beer is in the pickup truck” when trying to get rid of an accent you have been using all day long (although, by using this method you run the risk of simply replacing one accent with another).

Depending on the festival, strolling characters will often need to learn scripted material created to build specific interactions between characters. Sometimes, there is a plot line that is followed throughout the course of a day which may involve making appearances at certain locations, or even being in a staged play.

Some festivals will cast other plays and street performers out of their already existing cast of “strollers.” This may provide opportunities for additional income, but it also might mean more of a physical demand. Needless to say, there is a lot to take into consideration before becoming a strolling character.

The second type of renfaire performer is the stage act. These are the headline entertainers with already existing, pre-rehearsed, and pre-packaged shows which they perform on stage, or in the street at regular intervals. Performers in this group include jugglers and magicians, sword-swallowers and acrobats, singers and dancers, and a myriad of other entertainers with special skills. Being a stage act can be a very different experience from being a strolling character, but it has its own set of pros and cons.

On the plus side, stage acts typically make a lot more money for a lot less work. Instead of being in character for a whole day of walking around, stage acts usually perform intermittently in fixed locations for only short periods of time (typically anywhere from 20-45 minutes). While some stage acts find themselves performing a large number of shows, occasionally at different locations, there is usually plenty of down time for breaks. Depending on the success of the show, stage acts may even enjoy a slight feeling of celebrity from developing a fan base. While a stage act at a renfaire does have to make some concessions for the period (it doesn’t make much sense for a magician to be doing tricks with lasers and buzz saws), they usually have a bit more leniency as far as what they can get away with. It is not at all unusual for a special events entertainer used to performing in bars and clubs to perform a slightly “tweaked” version of their normal “non-renaissance” show.

On the negative side…getting a job as a stage act at a festival means building and rehearsing a whole show entirely on your own…and then convincing an entertainment director or festival owner to buy it. This means putting together a good pitch and some promotional material, or at least some decent video footage of your act. The bad news here, is that it is a highly competitive market, with many different acts all vying for the same venues. In order to land a job at the best faires, a stage act either needs to be singularly unique, or VERY high quality. Building a show that fits with the theme very often means having a special skill or talent (such as juggling), although a good performer will find that just a little bit of creativity can go a long way.

Stage acts will also find that certain festivals are what we call “hat faires.” These are festivals where an act’s base pay will be lower (or even non-existent) because they are allowed to “pass the hat” during their performances. Busking for your pay may be appropriate to a renaissance setting, but it also means not having as steady of an income. There will be days when there are huge crowds who love you and are willing to throw all kinds of cash your way…and then there will be days when the crowds are small and strapped for cash after paying for their admission to the festival, souvenirs for the kids, and food for the whole family.

Stage acts are also responsible for supplying their own props and period costumes…which can get kind of expensive. In some cases, a stage act might manage to get the festival’s resident costumer to outfit them, but having something already put together to sell to a renfaire is always preferable.

An important skill for a stage act to have, is that of contract negotiation. Before accepting any renfaire job, it is a good idea to know any up-front expenses, and exactly how much money you will need in order to make the job worth it.

Be Prepared for the 16th Century!

Health and hygiene for outdoor performing

As a veteran renfaire performer, I have accumulated a good deal of experience acting in an outdoor setting. I have also witnessed the culture shock of many an entertainer performing in the rain or blinding sunlight for the first time. Needless to say, it takes a very different skill-set than acting in a darkened theater or nightclub. A lot of the following advice may seem obvious…but for anyone preparing to don the garb in the near future…this bears repeating.

1. Wear comfortable footwear.

Okay, I know it seems like there isn’t much choice in the matter. Period shoes are period shoes, and most of them aren’t made with comfort in mind. Still, if your feet are getting punished, your whole body will suffer. Luckily, this isn’t too hard to fix. There are many brands of new boots and shoes that are made in a renaissance-passable style, and if you are willing to spend some money, every faire has their own cobbler shops that make very high quality boots, moccasins, etc. specifically for use at festivals (I also recommend shopping online for the best deals). In a pinch, get yourself a good insert with arch support. You won’t regret it.

2. Cover your noggin!

16th century hats, hoods, and snoods are not only stylish and period appropriate, they can save you a lot of grief. True, some of them don’t do much more than look pretty (or even pretty stupid), but they can keep you dry in the rain, and shield your eyes from the sun. For a nifty trick…you can even conceal a small watch inside of a hat. That way, if you get asked for the time (and you will), you need only lift off your hat, use it to shield your eyes as you pretend to gaze in the direction of the sun, and then boldly pronounce the time of day.

3. Wear sunscreen.

Duh.

4. Stay cool and hydrate.

Again, duh. This one is especially important however, because at a renfaire this might not be all that easy to do. If you happen to be portraying royalty (thank the Lord that I never do), you are particularly susceptible to heatstroke, as you will probably be wearing enough upholstery to build a couch. The best thing to do is budget your time to include breaks where you can strip off layers. And for pity’s sake, stay away from the ale and drink water!

5. Carry anti-bacterial hand sanitizer.

Some festivals have full, amusement park quality bathrooms with running water. At others, you will get little more than plastic port-o-johns. In either case, you’re going to want an easy way to keep your hands clean before you start gnawing on that turkey leg or hunk-o-meat-on-a-stick. Even if your village is the kind with the nice washrooms (personally, I think the existence of “nice” ones is a myth), you may find yourself avoiding going to them for several reasons. Ladies can attest to how difficult it is to hit the privy wearing a hoop skirt and corset. And guys…take it from me…it’s no fun having to stand at a urinal next to someone who’s “a big fan!” On the same note as clean hands, I highly suggest keeping your nails trimmed. Many faires are pretty dusty, and grime can build up quick (just ask a performer at a festival without paved pathways what it’s like to blow their nose at the end of a day).

6. Know where first aid is.

Any festival that hires you will give you some kind of orientation on this subject. Take it seriously. Festivals are fun, but there are a dozen ways for a performer to get sick or injured.

7. Remember, you are not REALLY in the renaissance!

There is historical accuracy, and then there is just plain stupid. Many of the customs, fashions, and practices from centuries ago are no longer in existence for a good reason…because people DIED from them. There is nothing wrong with wearing a stylish little fox tail on your belt, which was done in the renaissance to attract plague-carrying fleas away from the body, but it is no excuse to stop bathing! And ladies, a tight corset may be attractive (and historically accurate), but use your better judgment when lacing them. There has actually been a rise of ailments that have not been seen among women for 300 years…specifically because of the new popularity of renfaires and all the corsets that women are once again wearing! When in doubt, go with your modern education over obsessively staying in character.
Best Festival Poll!

To anyone who has ever worked at, attended, or even just looked into more than one renaissance festival…here’s your chance to sound off!

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by David Burgess on May 7, 2018 0

Jean Valjean from Les Miserables

Prisoner 24601, Trying to Outrun the Past

Jean Valjean, central character of Les Miserables, has been played by a host of great actors on stage and screen. Hugh Jackman is the Valjean of the new Les Mis movie musical. Jackman is a talented singer and stage performer who seems perfectly cast, but he follows in a line of great footsteps from previous Jean Valjean actors and singers. Meet here just some of the famous faces and voices who have starred as the former convict trying to be a good man in an unforgiving world.

Also discover the story of this man who raised himself up only to find others trying to drag him back down to the misery of life as a convict without hope.

Image credit: Portrait of Yvan Tourgueniev via Wikimedia Commons. Chosen for a resemblance to descriptions of Jean Valjean in his older years.

Who Was Jean Valjean?

Peasant, Convict, Mayor, Father
Jean Valjean Book Illustration (AllPosters.com)

Jean Valjean has many identities. The 3 volumes (or books) of the novel Les Misérables, written by Victor Hugo, follow his life from where he takes it up in middle age on being released as a convict up until his final days as an old man.

Valjean’s story is a sad one, but ultimately is a story of hope. He was born into poverty and describes himself in his early years as stupid and ignorant, though his later achievements show this to be a product of his background and not any lack of ability. Driven to theft by the hunger and suffering of his sister and her children, he was arrested and sent to the galleys as a convict. This was a brutal life, each day being a day of forced labor, chained to other convicts. His only thought was one of escape, and each time he attempted escape and was recaptured his sentence was extended.

So it was that Jean Valjean lost all of his youth and what could have been the most productive days of his life as a convict, engaged in mindless and back-breaking work. When he was finally released he was already a middle-aged man who bore the stigma of having been a ‘dangerous’ criminal for so many years. Only by running from the law and changing his identity could he have a chance to make his way in the world.

Religion is a strong theme in Hugo’s novel, and it was the mercy of a bishop that set Valjean on a new path of serving his God through good works and moral conduct.

Valjean worked hard, taking every opportunity to study and learn, and treated all he met with kindness and fairness. A natural businessman, he found great success which he used to make his town profitable, and reluctantly became Mayor. But Valjean’s success was short-lived, because on the tail of this reformed convict was a prison guard turned police inspector, who had resolved to capture the man who had evaded the law.

Jean Valjean, Illustration from Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables available from AllPosters.com.

Valjean, Javert, Fantine and Cosette

The Man Who Hunted Him Down, The Women He Wanted to Protect

The pursuit of Jean Valjean by Inspector Javert has captured the public’s imagination since Hugo first published his epic tale in 1862. The story creates a hero of a villain as Valjean overcomes his past and struggles to do what is morally right. And in Javert the man of law becomes an anti-hero, relentless in his determination to bring Valjean down.

Interwoven into their story is that of Fantine, a ‘fallen woman’, and her orphaned daughter Cosette. Via this tragic woman and the care of her neglected child, Valjean learns to love and even has a chance to take on the role of a father, making up for the family he never had.

However, Valjean finds that being a good man and taking care of the child he loves as his own means living a life on the run from the law.

Les Miserables on Stage and Screen

A Timeless Tale of Struggle and Redemption
Jordan Bennett as Valjean (Convict)

The story of Jean Valjean has been told many times in many ways. The first Les Misérables movie was made in 1909 and since then there have been many adaptations of the novel for theater and film.

It is the global success of the stage musical version of Les Misérables that has contributed most to the popularity of this story. Created by the now legendary French composer and lyricist duo, Schönberg and Boublil, ‘Les Miz’ made its debut in London in 1985 and has gone on to make musical theater history around the world. Jean Valjean is barely off the stage throughout the stage production, which is sung-through, meaning there is no pause in the singing for spoken lines. He therefore sings frequently in duets and counterpoint with other characters. His own famous song from the show is the emotional Bring Him Home. These challenges for both voice and acting make it one of modern-day musical theater’s greatest roles.

Les Misérables has not been neglected on the big screen either, and the coveted role of Valjean has been played by some of our most talented actors. For the first time in 2012/13 the movie and the musical meet as Hugh Jackman performs as Valjean in the first full movie version of Les Mis.

Image credit: Jordan Bennett as Jean Valjean. This image released into Public Domain by the actor via Wikimedia Commons.

Colm Wilkinson as Prisoner 24601

The Original Les Miserables Cast’s Jean Valjean
Colm Wilkinson on the cover of his album

Colm Wilkinson already had a singing career in his native Ireland before he created the stage musical role of Jean Valjean. In fact, some may remember him as Ireland’s entry to the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest. Colm earned his country a respectable 5th place in the contest, which is known for political voting. Fellow original Les Mis cast members Frances Ruffelle and Michael Ball have also separately performed at Eurovision, representing the UK.

Colm had already released his own album and assisted Andrew Lloyd Webber in the creation of the Phantom in the early stages of The Phantom of the Opera by the time he was cast as Valjean in the original London cast of Les Misérables. Wilkinson also opened Les Mis on Broadway after a casting struggle with Equity. He is held in high regard by many Les Mis fans as not only the first but the greatest Valjean. Colm turned 41 in the debut year of Les Misérables, making him a good fit for the middle-aged Valjean, and set the standard not only for the voice but also for the appearance of future Valjeans.

Colm Wilkinson followed his Les Mis role with the Phantom in the original Canadian cast of The Phantom Of The Opera, with Rebecca Caine (the original Cosette in Les Miserables) as Christine.

He resumed his role of Valjean in the legendary 10th Anniversary Dream Cast Concert of Les Miserables at London’s Royal Albert Hall and formed part of The Valjean Quartet of four of the greatest Jean Valjean performers singing Bring Him Home as part of the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert celebration.

Colm Wilkinson has a cameo as the Bishop of Digne in the Les Misérables movie. He has a Christmas Concert tour in Canada at the end of 2012 and also can sometimes be seen on tour in his homeland of Ireland. His most recent screen appearance was as Lord Thomas Darcy in The Tudors.

Colm Returns to Les Miserables

Wilkinson as the Bishop of Digne in the Les Mis Movie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhpwV4cwB4o

Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean

The 25th Anniversary Concert Valjean
Alfie Boe on his album cover Love Was a Dream

British performer Alfie Boe brought a new interpretation of Jean Valjean to us when he starred in the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert. It seems Boe can hardly be mentioned without referring to the fact that this talented singer was set for a career as a car mechanic. Fortunately for us, Boe auditioned for opera, going on to make a name for himself, and his versatile talent led to his selection as Valjean both in the 25th Anniversary O2 Concert in London and on the West End stage.

Alfie is one of the four Valjeans in The Valjean Quartet as they sing Bring Him Home. He has released a number of successful albums and in 2012/13 is touring the UK in concert.
Learn More About Alfie Boe
A Popular New Jean Valjean

Other Popular West End and Broadway Performers as Valjean

A Small Selection of Musical Theatre Talent

Everyone has a favorite Valjean and if you had a room full of Les Miz fans you would find that though some names would come up again and again, it would be impossible to agree on the ‘best’ Jean Valjean performer. I can’t begin to do justice to all the men who have played the central character of Les Miserables in London’s West End or on Broadway in New York, still less the international and touring productions. The below are just a few of the highly-rated Valjeans you may have heard of or been lucky enough to see in live performances.

John Owen-Jones has made one of the more recent appearances as Jean Valjean but the performer first appeared in the role when he was just 26. Owen-Jones took on the role for the Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Tour and appeared as Valjean both in London and on Broadway. He has also starred as the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and in 2012 is touring in this role. He was one of the four performers in The Valjean Quartet. Follow John Owen-Jones on Twitter.

Simon Bowman became part of musical theater history when he created the role of Chris (with Lea Salonga as Kim) in the original cast of Miss Saigon. His other West End roles have included Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera and he has been both Marius and Valjean in Les Mis in London. He joined Owen-Jones, Wilkinson and Boe in The Valjean Quartet.

Randal Keith impressed audiences with his Valjean when he toured in the role in the US, and performed on Broadway, plus in China and Korea. He was the final Valjean in the show’s Broadway run. Keith has also starred in The Phantom of the Opera in the States and has performed a number of other musical theater roles.

J. Mark McVey has been another popular Jean Valjean in the USA, winning a Helen Hayes award for his touring performance and playing the role on Broadway and in the Hollywood Bowl Les Miserables concert. Recently, fans have been again enjoying Mark’s performance in the US 25th Anniversary Les Misérables tour. Mark has released 2 CDs to date. Follow J. Mark McVey on Twitter

Back in London, Ramin Karimloo has been treating the West End to his Valjean before going on a tour of his own in 2012. Ramin, who is of Iranian descent, is one of the youngest Valjeans. He has also starred as the Phantom both in the original production and creating the role in Love Never Dies. He was Enjolras in the 25th Anniversary Les Miserables Concert and played the father of Christine Daaé in the 2004 movie version of The Phantom of the Opera. Ramin starred in The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011. Follow Ramin Karimloo on Twitter.

Jean-Paul Belmondo

A 1995 Variation on the Les Miserables Story
Jean Paul Belmondo (AllPosters.com)

Not an adaptation that stays true to the novel, but an interesting twist on the original tale. In this version from 1995, Jean-Paul Belmondo plays 3 men. One of these is Jean Valjean himself, one a father with a story that has tragic parallels with that of Valjean, and the third man is his son who aids Jewish refugees at the time of the persecution of the Jews during the Second World War.

Belmondo is a French screen legend, with the majority of his film work dating from the 1960s and 1970s. He is known both as a comedy actor and an action hero (famously doing all of his own stunts).

Liam Neeson

Les Misérables Movie 1998
Liam Neeson (AllPosters.com)

Liam Neeson headed a cast of stars in a film adaptation of the Les Misérables novel. Neeson’s Valjean was pursued by Geoffrey Rush as Javert, and he tended to Uma Thurman as the dying Fantine, later taking on care of her daughter Cosette played (as a teen) by Claire Danes.

Neeson stayed true to the novel with a morose and physically imposing Valjean who towered over Cosette and was more than a match for Javert (Neeson is 6′ 4″). However, he shared some tender moments with his Fantine that gave the impression that these two could under different circumstances been happy together.

Liam Neeson is of course a much-loved actor known for roles in popular movies such as Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and The Dark Knight Rises as well as playing national figures such as Rob Roy and Michael Collins. He is also the voice of Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia and one of his most acclaimed roles was as Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List.

Trailer for 1998 Les Mis Movie

Neeson vs. Rush… It Doesn’t Get Much Better!
I admit, I can’t wait to see Jackman and Crowe, but Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush were also dream casting in this non-sung version of Les Miserables.

Gerard Depardieu

Leading French actor Gérard Depardieu became Jean Valjean in a TV mini-series in the year 2000. He was joined by John Malkovich as Javert, with Charlotte Gainsbourg as Fantine.

Depardieu is well-known beyond France for his roles in Hollywood movies such as Green Card and The Man in the Iron Mask, and has a prolific career in French-language cinema ranging from Jean De Florette and Cyrano de Bergerac to Obélix in the various Asterix and Obelix movies.

Recent projects include Ang Lee’s Life of Pi.

Les Miserables Movie in 2000

Depardieu and Malkovich
This looks like a stunning adaptation of the novel. As a bonus for Eponine fans, her part hasn’t been cut from this particular version.

Hugh Jackman

Jackman Takes the Stage Valjean to the Big Screen
Hugh Jackman (AllPosters.com)

Hugh Jackman’s performance as Jean Valjean in the Les Misérables movie musical has been eagerly anticipated. Jackman is a popular actor both in Hollywood blockbusters such as the X-Men Trilogy and also in musical theater.

It’s hard to imagine better casting, as the star brings experience of both stage and screen to his Valjean. Jackman has already proven that he has the voice to perform nightly on Broadway in a one-man show, the charisma to host the Academy Awards, and the versatility as an actor to be a box-office favorite in a variety of movies. He also has the tall stature of Valjean and, for what it’s worth, is about the right age for Jean at the earlier stages of the movie.

Jackman can be seen starring as cowboy Curly in the musical revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, in which one of his co-stars was original Les Mis London cast member Peter Polycarpou. He is expected to follow Les Miserables with the role of the great entertainer P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman on Earth and will also making another appearance as Wolverine in The Wolverine.

Photo of Hugh Jackman available from AllPosters.com.
Hugh in Valjean Costume
Jackman’s video from the set of Les Mis

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